The UFC is returning Brazil for a very Brazil centric card featuring the fighter the UFC is pushing as their Brazilian GSP, Jose Aldo. He’s defending against Chan Sung Jung, affectionately known as “The Korean Zombie,” with the featherweight title on the line. As always the Inside Fights staff has combined to predict the main card.
Joining me are the following:
Jon Kirschner, Kickboxing Writer and Special Features Writer
Luke Cho-Yee, Staff Writer
Adam Keyes, Staff Writer
Scott Sawitz, Featured Columnist and Managing Editor
Ryan Frederick, Staff Writer
John Lineker vs Jose Tome
CY: The thirty-three year old Tome is no joke, having amassed a 33/3 record and enters a weight class that desperately need viable contenders but I have been very impressed with Lineker of late and I expect youth to trump greater experience on this occasion, with Lineker dominating the striking exchanges, ensuring a decision win. Lineker
Keyes: I have no idea who Tome is, but I do know who Lineker is and he is an absolute killer. Perhaps the biggest prospect in the flyweight division, Lineker has heavy, heavy hands for that division and I fully expect to see them in devastating action this Saturday. Lineker
Frederick: This is a very high-level flyweight fight, and one that could be very explosive. I think if Demetrious Johnson is going to lose to anyone currently on the UFC roster at 125 pounds, it’ll either be Joseph Benavidez or John Lineker. Lineker has a lot of power, and he packs it nicely behind his punches, and he is all-out aggression. Tome is very experienced, but he has the tendency to keep his hands low, and if he does that, Lineker will eat his lunch and make him pay. Lineker
Sawitz: Lineker came into the UFC with an extraordinary level of hype from a lot of people in the know … and lost emphatically to Louis Gaudinot after missing weight. He’s righted the ship between then, of course, and with a big win he could be in title contention sooner than later. Tome comes from a good camp and has notched a ton of wins with his hands. Lineker loves to throw, as well. I’ll go with the upset here. Tome.
Thales Leites vs Tom Watson
CY: The former middleweight title contender Leites returns after a four year absence and will be intent on making up for lost time yet Watson will be undaunted by the task at hand and I believe he will be able to use his wrestling in reverse to keep things standing and cause significant damage on the feet, thus sneaking through to a tight decision win. Watson
Keyes:As a Brit, every fibre of my being wants to pull for Watson. However, while I expect Watson to have the better of Leites on the feet, Leites will eventually get this to the mat and work his stellar BJJ to the finish. Leites
Frederick: When I think about Thales Leites, I think of a nice nap I got after recently watching his fight with Alessio Sakara. That was dull, and I hope that being cut from the UFC following that restored his hunger for exciting fights. He has been out of action for a long time and fighting Watson in his return from such a layoff is a tough task. Watson has the edge on the feet and it will make the difference. Watson
Sawitz: Watson came in as perhaps the best fighter not in the UFC from the United Kingdom not named Conor McGregor and so far hasn’t really shown his ceiling is all that high. Leites got a raw deal in his first stint with the UFC, shunted out after a second loss following his debacle of a title shot against Anderson Silva. Watson is just a guy and Leites isn’t much better than that. Leites.
Cezar Ferreira vs. Thiago Santos
CY: Ferreira may has lost some momentum since winning the first series of TUF Brazil but his time on the show proved he deserves his place among the UFC middleweights. Santos is a well rounded fighter with a versatile skill set but I can see “Mutante” outclassing his opponent in all areas before applying the decisive finish. Ferreira
Keyes: I’ve been impressed with what I have seen from Ferreira so far but then that hasn’t been much as I would have liked due to injuries to the Brazilian. In his first fight in just over a year, I expect to see Ferreira triumph as I feel that he will have just too much for UFC newcomer Santos. Ferreira
Frederick: Kudos to Santos for stepping up on short notice to take a tough fight, but he will be in over his head on this one. Ferreira is a complete package and a Vitor Belfort clone. His dangerous striking will put Santos to sleep quickly. Ferreira
Sawitz: Ferreira is Vitor Belfort’s prodigy and the hype for him in Brazil has been building, especially considering this is his debut after winning TUF: Brazil 1. Santos is on short notice and this won’t be pretty. Ferreira.
Lyoto Machida vs Phil Davis
Kirschner: To me, this bout is the most intriguing fight on the main card. Mr. Wonderful is being given another chance by UFC brass to prove that he belongs with the elite competitors in the light heavyweight division. Since his loss to Rashad Evans in early 2012, he earned victories over two men whose combined UFC records are 1 Win, 4 Losses and 1 No Contest. Davis is a fantastic athlete, but I believe he is in over his head going up against Machida. Machida’s current style is so elusive that Davis will not be able to put him where he wants. I see Machida earning a decision victory here, or lighting up Davis for a surprise knockout victory.
CY: Davis is an exceptional athlete yet remains an underwhelming presence on the UFC roster. A victory here, over a former light heavyweight champion would be a huge step forward in his career. I expect Davis to focus intently on taking Machida down but I can see the Karate champion being elusive enough to avoid the shoot and land his trademark counter strikes. Machida
Keyes: While Davis will hold a wrestling advantage and in most fights is able to secure the takedown when things get a little dicey, Davis will never have come across with the movement of Machida. For me, Machida will prove to elusive for Davis to take down and have way too much striking prowess to dispose of the still developing Davis. Machida
Frederick: As interesting as this fight could be, it has the potential to be a cure for insomnia. We all know how Machida fights when he has advantages, and Davis can make it a boring fight if he tries to wrestle. Davis needs to bring the pressure and use his size against Machida, but Machida’s striking edge gives him the big advantage. I think it’s a close fight, but one that Machida will win. Machida
Sawitz: This could be either awesome or an even worse fight than Machida/Henderson. There’s no middle ground; Machida is a fighter who has fantastic fights or puts Jon Fitch to sleep. There’s no mid ground. My guess is Davis gets him down at least once and we’re back to a split decision win. This time the
Jose Aldo vs Chan Sung Jung
Kirschner: As a gambling man I can assure you that there are a handful of names I won’t bet against, and Jose Aldo is one of them. Jose Aldo has the edge in almost every category in this bout, with the exception of having the ability to absorb an obscene amount of punishment. Taking that into consideration, expect to see Jose Aldo walk away with a decision victory.
CY: A great opportunity for the Zombie but can he pull it off? It’s a tough task when facing one of the pound-for-pound best in the world, especially down in Brazil after a lengthy lay off. I foresee the more explosive Aldo controlling the range and wearing Jung down with leg kicks, before forcing a late stoppage. Aldo
Keyes: Chan Sung Jung got a lucky, but deserved break when Pettis had to pull out of the title fight through injury giving Jung his shot at Aldo. The Korean Zombie has a ton of heart but that is not going to be enough, Aldo will go through Jung’s striking defence like a hot knife through butter. Aldo
Frederick: I have been looking forward to the possibility of this fight for a long time, and it is almost impossible for The Korean Zombie to have a bad fight. He has excelled quite well in the UFC, but when I think of a potential outcome of this fight, I think back to the Zombie’s fight against George Roop. He was knocked out cold in that one, and with Aldo being the dangerous striker that he is, I’m thinking we will be in for a similar result. Jung will put up a fight though. Aldo
Sawitz: The first rule of MMA: never bet against Jose Aldo. Not even if he was facing Junior Dos Santos, who also gets to use a baseball. Aldo.
